Why You Should Treat Your Most Loyal Customers Like Gold

No matter the size of your business, there is always room for it to grow. At least, this is the thinking of most business owners in Canada. After all, who wouldn’t want to boost sales and increase their customer bases? Believe it or not, business growth can be much easier than you may think. It takes some creativity, some dedication and the implementation of some unique marketing strategies.

One of the best possible marketing strategies you could come up is treating your customers like gold. There will never be a better way to plug your brand than to have your customers plug it for you. And when those who support your business know that they are appreciated, they’ll be a lot more likely to spread the word to others about how great your company is.

Play favourites with your customers. Now, favourtism isn’t generally a practice that is recommended. But, in the business world, it only makes sense. When you show your appreciation to customers who regularly support your business, you’re bound to secure their long-term loyalty. And when that happens, they will become walking commercials for your brand. People tend to enjoy recommending their favourite businesses to others. Make sure your best customers know how much you appreciate them.

“Regardless of how overworked you feel, giving more time to your best customers will bring rewards,” writes Malcolm Allitt of Green Umbrella, “They’ll notice the special attention they’re getting and they’ll be delighted with the premium treatment they get. Spend time building relationships and help them find reasons for referring you – if they know like-minded people with similar values to their own (and yours) then this will be time well spent. Let your more junior team members handle your smaller accounts, supported and coached by you.”

Don’t be afraid to publicly praise your favourite customers. Arguably, there’s no better way to show your appreciation for your most loyal shoppers than to tell the world about them. With the advent of social media, this has become easier than ever. Simply tweeting about your favourite customers or mentioning them in Facebook posts can go a long way. On the Kissmetrics Blog, Mike Bal encourages this idea.

“Embed social media posts from fans who have shared your content or said something great about your brand to their followers,” he recommends, “Put them in the spotlight and let them know how much you appreciate them. Once they see the reciprocity, they’ll make your brand a priority and become one of your most valuable marketing assets.”

Send your customers things that they won’t expect. One of the best ways to increase your chances of receiving long-term loyalty from your biggest supporters is to surprise them once in a while. Utilizing your social media accounts, you should take note of the different things that your loyal customers say and do. That way, you’ll know exactly how to “wow” them during your next encounter.

“If your fans take an interest in what you’re talking about and what you care about, it’s only fair for you to do the same,” writes Bal, “Take a look at their social accounts to see what kinds of things they really enjoy, and then send them something you know they’ll love. They’ll definitely talk about it through their social accounts and, more importantly, they’ll talk about it in person with their friends, family, colleagues, and anyone else who will listen.”

At Canadian POS Corporation, our experience has taught us that customers love receiving options for how they may pay for their purchases. For more information on how you can begin to accept credit cards and debit cards in your store, call us at 1-877-748-2884 or email us at info@localhost. Be sure to ask about our Countertop and Wireless POS terminal options!